Kodak EasyShare Z1285

Pros: Sharp picture, multiple picture settings, easy to use, lightweight, quiet, inexpensive.

Cons: You dont really need all 12 megapixels.

Summary: Overal this camera performs up to its specifications and I am happy with my purchase. Before purchasing, I had researched the "Kodak Z1285" wich boasted 12 megapixels, and a 5 optical zoom for the small sized, light-weight digital camera.

Being an owner/user of the "Kodak Easy Share C875" wich ran with 8 megapixels, and a 5 optical zoom(I was extreemly impressed with this camera), I found the info on the "Z1285" saying it was just the next step up in the Kodak Easy Share series.

More megapixels, same optical zoom, again with lots of cool camera modes to toy with, this time in a sleek black coated design. I bought the camera from Circut City for $179(amazingly inexpensive I thought, for its speciafications) along with the two year protection plan. So for a grand total of $234, I was out the door and covered for two years.

This morning I walked out to the two acres I live on and shot away. Close shots, wide open shots, small detail to insainly detailed images. I was able to shoot around 90 images on a standard 256mb SD card with the picture setting on 12megapixels(though the camera gives you the option of 12, 10, 9, 6, and 2), and the new AA batteries stil had juice though the memory had run out. Excited I went inside to check the results.

From the first image I could tell the difference in the two camera's. Thicker detail, shaper images, and the pictures had a more "being there" feel to them, rather than a flat faced image feel you sometimes get with basic camera's. They seem to be more "3d". Overall, very impressive exspecialy if you are just an average everyday picture taker looking for good quality. This camera will do you proud.

The "Z1285" also has a HD video-5x optical option on it wich makes it easy to shoot short video clips that are easy to transfer to your computer. As simple as removing your SD card and plugging it into your hard drive card slot. (The same standard 256mb SD card giving you about 7 min and 30sec of record time.)

That being said, I sat here and tried to think of some negitives for it and it took me about 10 minutes to think of any. But if I had to complain, I would whine the following:

1) You dont need all 12 megapixels it offers. The pictures are huge when moved to your computer. The quality is stil excelent, but there is no need for all that picture. I changed the megapixel option on the camera from 12 to 9, and the results were even more impressive. It took even sharper, full colored, high quality images on 9.

2) The HD video option it offers works great as long as you have a steady hand holding the camera. But being that the camera is small and light weight, small bumps or movements can result in sharp jerks of footage. However, when the camera was secured, the results were great video, sharp, without the problem of blurring even when I would move a pointing finger in and out of the lense.

The Bottom Line:

For the price I paid, warranty and all, I am highly impressed with my reults. This camera is by no means the greatest camera on the planet. If you want to fork out a couple hundred dollars just to get a picture camera then feel free buying a Sony and so on. But this "Kodak Easy Share Z1285" is perfect for someone wanting high quality images from a camera that is not only inexpensive, but simple to use.

Peace..